Last modified: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 2:32 PM EDT Rehoboth traffic signal nixed BY LAURA CALVERLEY FOR THE SUN CHRONICLE REHOBOTH - The town won't get a traffic signal on Route 44 at the entrance to the elementary and middle schools anytime soon. A traffic study conducted by the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District found the site does not warrant a signal, Selectman Kevin McBride said. The entrance into Palmer River Elementary and Beckwith Middle Schools did not meet all the criteria necessary for the agency to recommend a signal. "In order for a traffic signal to be appropriate at a location, it has to meet certain criteria, and it's based on traffic volume on the side street as well as on the main road," said Adam Recchia, the agency's senior transportation planner. "At this location, it didn't have enough traffic exiting and entering the school." Traffic did meet the four-hour traffic volume and peak-hour volume, but did not meet the eight-hour measure. "Mass Highway, in most situations, wants the eight-hour criteria to be met in order to install a traffic signal at the location," Recchia said. Because Route 44 is a state road, it is under state Highway Department jurisdiction, he said. The agency did recommend some safety improvements for the schools' entrance, including a lower school zone speed limit, appropriate school zone warning signs, consolidating two crosswalks across Route 44 into one and adding a crosswalk across the driveway. The site is not officially a school zone now, Police Chief Stephen Enos said. "I haven't given up on it yet. We definitely have to do something," Enos said. Laura Calverley covers Rehoboth for The Sun Chronicle. She can be reached at lcalverley@aol.com.